I know from tracking auctions that the K serial Orvilles were sold in Ishibashi stores which means Yamano wasn't involved and therefore the K prefix stands for "Kanda Shokai".

Both the Yamano and Kanda Shokai commissioned Orvilles were made in Japan just like the Japanese Fenders.

Korea doesn't come into the picture because all the Orvilles including the K serial Orvilles were using the Fender Japan setup and that means Japan only.

I'd like to see some proof of this.
Just by "tracking" auctions you tell us that "K" stands for "Kanda Shokai"?
No Orvilles were ever made in Korea?
Do you mean by saying "Fender Japan setup" electronics, pickups and bridges or is there a text in every K-Orville that says: "This guitar was setup by Fender Japan worker"?

I'm not saying that you could be right but just telling that the this is the truth and others were wrong without something backing up your word is quite unbelievable. IF you are right, I quess K-Orvilles' prices shoot up through the roof?

This is not a personal attack against you nor am I calling you a liar. (Just making this clear and to avoid mistakes.)

my guy thinks they are not the same as japan orvilles...i believe him...the fact is wherever they come from whatever the reasoning ..people dont like them as much as non K-serial orvilles...and as there are so many non k serial orvilles about why take any risk?
...

However, the theory would imply that Ishibashi never sold any new higher end Orville by Gibson models. Was that true?

I can believe that two different factories produced the ObGs and stickered Orvilles, maybe three!

I have seen very few early (1989-1992) inked serial number Orvilles, but I didn't keep track of the models, so I can't confirm that they were all SG basses. One of the earliest inked serial number Orville I saw was 905184 -- is that May 1990 or May 1989?

I can believe that two different factories produced the ObGs and stickered Orvilles, maybe three!

THis would be quite logical.

There's still the Orville By Gibson accoustics point: There's some accoustics fromthe same year, same model but different serials and different truss rod cover:

the A serial guitars have the Gibson truss rod cover, and the G serial guitars have a 3 screws "?piphone like" cover. They are both "Orville By Gibson".

Plus the fact a friend e-mailed Yamano some years ago for the factories making Orville and they answered 3 factories were involved if I remember well. The aswer was posted on a french forum, I should be able to find it._________________nankurunai sa!

the K series orvilles are different to the non K series ...the colour blend on the sunbursts is different, , and the poly finish on the K series is thicker...so different factories whether in japan or not makes sense...